History: Hydrus is the Male Watersnake (as compared to Hydra). Unlike Hydra, however, Hydrus is a newer constellation and therefore has no classical mythology associated with it. It was described as a companion for Hydra by Pieter Dirkszoon and Frederick de Houtman -- the Dutch navigators who mapped part of the Southern Hemisphere sky during the years 1595 through 1597.
Other Interesting Sights: The Small Magellanic Cloud, an irregular galaxy, is in this constellation. It is the second closest galaxy to the Milky Way, with the Large Magellanic Cloud in the constellation Dorado being the first. Both Magellanic Clouds were discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1519.
The Small Magellanic Cloud
(Photo Copyright: Anglo-Australian Observatory/
Royal Observatory, Edinburgh.)